Primrose Lerato Mbhiza
At the official announcement of the NSFAS bursary application season for the academic year 2024, Minister of Higher Education Dr Blade Nzimande took the time to highlight and condemn the disturbing trend of Gender-Based Violence that he said was a scourge afflicting not only in society but also plagued institutions of higher learning as well.
“I have convened this media briefing to announce the official opening of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme bursary application season for the academic year 2024.
“However before I provide further details on the 2024 application season, I would like to raise concerns and necessary for both the government and the post school education and training sector to intensify campaigns to confront and defeat the scourge of gender based violence in our institutions the issue of Gender Based Violence in our society and at our post school education and training institutions.
“In the past weeks we have seen video footage of a university student stabbing his wife at a private student residence in Belhar, Cape Town. This kind of barbaric behaviour by males against women must be condemned and perpetrators must face the full might of the law.
“We cannot continue like this in our society where as many as 38% of murders are committed against women, often by their intimate partners.
“As part of dealing with gender-based violence in our institutions, I launched the Transforming MENtalities Initiative, which is a multistakeholder partnership within the PSET, with a particular focus on mobilising men in our sector to be part of championing a world free of gender biases, stereotypes, violence and discrimination.
“I urge all institutions working with Higher Health (which oversees wellness at higher education institutions) to continue to collectively implement programmes towards addressing the challenges of sexual and gender based violence within the PSET (Post School Education and Training) system,” Nzimande said.
The Minister also said he welcomed the arrests that have been made at the University of Fort Hare for the killings that have taken place there including a most recent incident where a student was stabbed to death allegedly over a missing laptop.
Two bodyguards of Fort Hare Vice-Chancellor Sakhela Buhlungu were killed in separate incidents this year in what has been alleged were assassination attempts of the VC.
“We had indicated to Minister Cele that indeed no stone must be left unturned in going to the reasons for the killings at Fort Hare. Without prejudging the situation, as Minister, I am however deeply concerned about the latest arrest of someone inside the Vice-Chancellors office and ostensibly responsible for the security in the institution.
“This may point to the fact that the problems at UFH may be deeper than meets the eye. I will be further engaging with Council on the latest developments, particularly given the fact that complaints have been raised with me about alleged illegal surveillance of Council and staff members”.
Nzimande said he wanted to remind all South Africans that the mandate of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) was to provide financial assistance to deserving beneficiaries who qualify for access to post-school education.
As a scheme, NSFAS represents one of the most progressive efforts by the government to systematically break the legacies of intergenerational social inequality in access to and outcomes of post school education and training, Nzimande said.
“This is particularly important if we consider the structural and social constraint to accessing education that was imposed by centuries of colonial and apartheid rule.
“There is no doubt that this government has made a decisive contribution towards a break with these reproductive legacies of the past.
“Since 1991, NSFAS funding has grown from disbursing R21.4 million to almost 48 billion to fund children of the working class and the poor seeking to further their studies in public universities and TVET colleges.
“This is a clear indication that the government has prioritised student funding and broadening of access to those sections of our communities who had no access to post school education and training in the past.
“The other notable milestone for the scheme has been the integration of all public universities and TVET colleges to the student-centred model wherein students apply directly to NSFAS for funding.
“In this current financial year, NSFAS is funding 1,6 million students. This follows an unprecedented surge in the number of applications received by the scheme.
“The entity has been working tirelessly to ensure that it improves on its processes for applications and ensuring quick turnaround times on funding decisions in preparation for the 2024 funding year.
“You would agree with me, that in order for NSFAS to successfully implement the funding of 2024, there needs to be closure of the 2023 funding cycle. This includes the finalisation of all the appeals and payment of all outstanding allowances for the academic year 2023.
“NSFAS committed that all appeals and the payment of outstanding allowance will be finalised this year. For all those students who did not get successful funding outcomes for the 2023 academic year, they are all encouraged to apply for 2024 funding.
“Let me also indicate that the proposed 2024 funding policy is almost complete, and will be issued by the end of November, to allow stakeholders to prepare for the 2024 academic year.
“The funding policy will cover the eligibility criteria and student allowances”.
INSIDE EDUCATION
